8.1.3: The Comparative of Equals
- Page ID
- 256055
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)The Comparative of Equals
Explanation
The same as is used with nouns when all of one noun is equal to all of another noun.
Examples:
My 1999 Ford Taurus was the same as my friend’s 1999 Ford Taurus.
My first language is the same as my sister’s first language.
One orange looks the same as another orange to me.
The same XXX as is used with nouns when one part of a noun is the same as one part of another noun.
Examples:
I teach in the same college as Kris and Allan.
Americans speak the same language as Australians do.
My sister has the same personality as I have.
Different from (than) is used when all of one noun is different from all of another noun.
Examples:
America is different from Vietnam.
Boys are different from girls.
Very rich people’s lives are different from very poor people’s lives.
A different XXX from (than) is used with nouns when only one part of nouns are different from each other.
Examples:
English has a different alphabet from Japanese.
My sons’ hair is a different color from my wife’s hair.
An apple has a different taste than an orange has.
As XXX as is used with adjectives and adverbs to show that part of one noun or verb is the same as part of another noun or verb. To show inequality, make the verb negative.
Examples:
I am as old as my friend Doug. We are both 70 years old.
Smoking is as bad for a person as drinking alcohol is.
I don’t drive my car as rapidly as my sister drives her car.
Young people don’t usually drive as slowly as old people do.
A Note about the endings of the above examples:
You may have noticed that not all of the above example sentences end in the same way. Why is this? Here is an explanation for three types of endings:
Type 1: "I teach in the same college as Kris and Allan."
- This comparison ends with a noun phrase: "as Kris and Allan"
- Why?
- The comparison here is focused on "college" (a noun), which is the shared element.
- Since the verb "teach" already applies to the speaker, Kris, and Allan, there is no need to repeat it. The noun "college" is enough to complete the comparison.
Key Rule: When the shared element is a noun, the comparison can end with the noun and the people or things being compared (e.g., "as Kris and Allan").
Type 2: "Americans speak the same language as Australians do."
- This comparison ends with "do": "as Australians do"
- Why?
- The comparison here is focused on the action (speaking), so the verb "do" is added to represent the similar action.
- "Do" functions as a substitute for the verb "speak" to avoid repetition:
- Full form: "Americans speak the same language as Australians speak."
- Simplified form: "Americans speak the same language as Australians do."
Key Rule: When the shared element involves an action or verb, "do" can be used to substitute the repeated verb.
Type 3: "My sister has the same personality as I have."
- This comparison ends with : "as I have"
- Why?
- The comparison here is about possession (having a personality). Since the verb "have" expresses this, it is repeated for clarity.
- Omitting "have" is possible in informal contexts: "My sister has the same personality as me." However, in formal grammar, the verb is often included to emphasize the shared possession.
Key Rule: When the shared element involves possession or a state of being, the verb is often repeated for clarity and formality.
Exercise 1.7:
Combine the following sentences into one sentence, using either the same as or different from. (Remember to use the negative verb to show differences.)
Examples:
My classroom and your classroom are the same. There is no difference.
My classroom is the same as your classroom.
My hat is size 7 and 1/4 and black. Your hat is size 8 and brown.
My hat is different from your hat.
1. My red pen and Roger’s red pen are the same.
2. My library of English books is large. Your library of English books is small.
3. My book is red. Your book is blue.
4. My friend Ed has a red Fit for a car. My friend Doug has a red Fit for a car..
5. I am shy and quiet. Roger is outgoing and talkative.
6. My address is 9548 Phinney Ave. N. My sons’ address is 9548 Phinney Ave. N.
7. My sister’s house is one story and brown. My house is two stories and blue.
8. My work schedule is day shift. My friend’s work schedule is night shift.
9. My sons are tall. I am short.
10. My sister loves comedies. I love comedies.